earliest

USAGE SUMMARY

"earliest" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe what happened first or the earliest instance in time. For example: The earliest evidence of writing is from about 3500 BC.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Money

Arts

Opinion

Travel

Sport

Tech

Business

TV & Radio

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Observer has learned that a major report by Ofsted looking at the level of sporting activity in schools before and after the coalition came to office in 2010, which was originally due for publication last August, has been put back to the end of February at the earliest.

The Guardian

My earliest memories of life were all about its end.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Naguib Mahfouz has said that his earliest literary influence was the potboilers of Hafiz Najib.

The Guardian - Books

We demand a spin-off series for them at the earliest opportunity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They confirmed that, with the exception of some of the earliest versions of the letters, they had all said somewhere in the small print that they had come from the lender.

The Guardian - Money

He thinks this might have something to do with the rise of the internet, which the book inadvertently documents: its earliest photographs come from 1994, an era that was "a little bit more friendly, a little bit more naïve", when the internet was more discussed than used, when a feature about it in Time magazine still had to open by explaining what the web was.

The Guardian - Arts

Under this rule, we would only release media once [potential irregular immigrants] were transferred ashore (at the earliest) … The fact that people will learn of certain details through Rescue Coordination Centre broadcasts … that does not mean that we greatly exacerbate the problem but (sic) announcing it ourselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

We first meet Tyrannosaurus and Diplodocus as children, their bones inspiring dreams, nightmares, and some of our earliest connections to science.

The Guardian - Opinion

The basic suite of tools journalists use has only been around six or seven years – so Gaza is one of the earliest glimpses into how propaganda and truth might intersect in 21st-century warfare.

The Guardian - Opinion

In June 1863, this 31-year-old adventuress from Yorkshire embarked on what was one of Thomas Cook's earliest tours to Switzerland and, thanks to Miss Jemima's diligent diarising, was the first to be recorded.

The Guardian - Travel

From the earliest days Labour's political ideas were heavily influenced by the Fabians: Sidney Webb substantially wrote both the party's 1918 Constitution (including the original Clause IV) and its programme Labour and the New Social Order.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting deadlines or expectations, use "earliest" to provide a lower bound or the most optimistic timing. For example, "The project will be completed by the end of the quarter at the "earliest".

Common error

Avoid using "earliest" when you mean "latest". "Earliest" refers to the beginning of a timeframe, not the end. Saying something will happen by the "earliest" opportunity implies it will happen as soon as possible, not at the last possible moment.

Linguistic Context

The word "earliest" primarily functions as a superlative adjective. It modifies a noun to specify the beginning of a period or the initial instance in a series of events. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates what happened first or the first instance in time. Examples from Ludwig illustrate it modifying "memories", "photographs", and "days".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Lifestyle

10%

Opinion

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Travel

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earliest" functions as a superlative adjective used to denote the start of a period or initial occurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable term in written English. It is prevalent in news, lifestyle, and opinion contexts, with neutral formality and indicates temporal references. Remember to use "earliest" to specify the beginning of a timeframe, not the end, and consider synonyms like "first" or "initial" for nuanced meanings. With consistently correct grammar and frequent usage, "earliest" is an effective way to convey the concept of beginning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first

Indicates the initial point in a sequence or time frame, emphasizing precedence.

initial

Highlights the commencement or starting phase of something, similar to "earliest" but focusing on the beginning stage.

original

Emphasizes the origin or the very beginning of something, relating to its initial form or state.

primary

Focuses on the fundamental or foundational aspect, indicating what came before subsequent developments.

preceding

Refers to something that comes before in time or sequence, setting a temporal context similar to "earliest".

previous

Highlights a prior occurrence or existence, indicating what happened or existed before the current instance.

oldest

Stresses the age and seniority compared to others, highlighting the length of existence from the starting point.

ancient

Conveys a sense of great age and historical significance, often used for things that date back to a distant past.

starting

Denotes the point where something begins or commences, akin to "earliest" in marking the inception.

inaugural

Refers to the very first of something, often used in formal or ceremonial contexts to highlight the beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "earliest" in a sentence?

You can use "earliest" to indicate the beginning of a period or the first possible time something can occur. For instance, "The "earliest" flight leaves at 6 AM" or "The "earliest" settlers arrived in the 17th century".

What's the difference between "earliest" and "first"?

"Earliest" refers to time, indicating when something happens relative to a timeline. "First", on the other hand, can refer to order or sequence, not strictly time. For example, "the "earliest" memory" (time) versus "the first step" (sequence).

What are some alternatives to using "earliest"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "initial", "original", or "primary" instead of "earliest". Each of these words emphasize slightly different aspects of being at the beginning.

Which is correct: "at the "earliest"" or "at the latest"?

"At the "earliest"" indicates the first possible time something could occur, while "at the latest" specifies the last possible time. They represent opposite ends of a timeline, so choose the phrase that accurately reflects your intended meaning.